Are some sins worse than others?
Here's the answer:
Are all sins the same? Well, it depends on what you're talking about.
When it comes to salvation, all sins are the same. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All sins, no matter how big or how small, make us so we don't deserve to go to heaven. Even if someone told one tiny white lie, he would still deserve hell. Fortunately, Jesus can forgive all of our sins. The moment we tell Jesus that our sin is wrong and He is right, and we want Him to be our Savior, He forgives every one of our sins—past, present, and future (John 1:29).
When it comes to consequences on earth and our relationship with God, sins do matter. The law in the Old Testament had specific punishments for each sin. If someone stole something, he had to pay it back. If he murdered someone, he would be killed by the authorities.
These are very different punishments for different sins, and you see the same in your own life. If you talk during class, you may get your name on the board. If you cheat on a big test, the punishment will be much worse!
The other difference is in your relationship with God. Some sins pull you further away from God than others. It's the same with disobeying your parents. If you accidentally forget to take out the trash after your dad told you to, he might get frustrated. If you steal his car and crash it into a tree, he's going to get angry, and it's going to take longer to earn back his trust.
Either way, whether you forget to take out the trash or steal his car, you will still be your dad's kid. In a similar way, if you are a Christian, no matter what sin you commit, you are still forgiven—you're still God's kid. But some sins are going to hurt your relationship with God more than others. When that happens, whether with God or your Dad, the answer is the same—say you’re sorry. Ask for help not to disobey again. God wants to keep a close relationship with you, and He's eager to hear you ask for forgiveness.
So be confident and know that there is no sin, big or small, that can make you lose your salvation. And remember that the quickest way to repair your relationship with God after you sin is to say you’re sorry.
Bible Truth
"Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory" (Romans 3:23).
"But God is faithful and fair. If we admit that we have sinned, he will forgive us our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure" (1 John 1:9).
